Good Problem to Have - Advice needed

[jwstand]

I will just leave it that I have had a good year, and my annual bonus, the first in more than 10 years, has left me with an amazing, wife approved, problem!

I am looking to make that purchase of a lifetime for a spinning reel. Being how I am, my head is now spinning (pardon the pun) from all the research I have been doing on the subject. I have ended up more confused than when I started...

I have several criteria: Must be bomb proof, Waterproof and able to handle powerful pelagics (sails, tuna - everything except giant BFT, Marlin etc...) but also have the touch to allow me to cast from my kayak with accuracy and distance. I travel extensively for work and carry a rod and reel in my carryon bag at all times. I have used my current Quantum cabo 40 on striper, blues, tarpon (not the monsters), permit, bones, slot and slightly larger reds, fluke, seabass and even some grouper and tog (landing a few 3-5 lbers) this year. I foresee a potential roosterfish, snapper, sailfish trip next year, as I may be forced to entertain clients in Bellize or Costa Rica. I know, but someone needs to do it!! On top of all that I am a sand rat on LBI and need something I need not worry about sand or water ruining a trip.

Realizing that nothing can do everything, and budget be da#ned, I am soliciting input from the board. I post infrequently, but have been and ardent member for quite some time (longer than my profile lists as I was blasted off when Jerry re-did the site some years ago). I am a regular if anonymous face on MANY of the Party and Charter boat sponsors here...

I am currently looking at (excuse if I get the exact model numbers wrong):

Stella 8-10000
Saltiga 5-6500
Van Staal - new VM 150 and VS 150


OK that was a mouthful and a half.... I am not good at short posts.... Please, with response let me know the WHY of your recommendation. This reel will be my go to and be subjected to my crazy fishing lifestyle. I should mention I am NOT one of those guys who babies my gear, nor services my reels religiously....

Let the fun begin.


Thanks in advance guys!

[GoIslanders]

It all depends on your budget. You can go with a couple (even three) of the new Spinfisher V which is well sealed (though not totally). It sounds like you have a lot of varied fishing which would call for a couple of different reels.

On the top end, especially for surf guys, is a Zee Baas.

[MoparCharlie]

If the budget allowed I'd own a Stella.

[jwstand]

Originally Posted by MoparCharlie

If the budget allowed I'd own a Stella.

I can certainly see why it would be in the running. My concern is this is the first year they are "waterproof" and the system they have employed (double grommets, essentially, around the handle post) is not tried and true, as yet. No doubt they will fix any issue quickly, but I have a hard time with untested technology.

My problem is I can find issue with all of the reels I have looked at so far. For the amount of money I am looking to spend I want to make the right decision!

Read a lot about the penn torque as well, but it seems to have an issue that needs correcting relating to the bail around 30lb of drag, well short of the 50 it has to offer with the drag mechanism. Again sure they will fix it, but I do not want to be disappointed for that kind of dough!

[aduma1107]

i have two stella 20000. can't go wrong with the type of fishing you say you will be doing.

[jwstand]

Originally Posted by aduma1107

i have two stella 20000. can't go wrong with the type of fishing you say you will be doing.

Thank you. Can you tell me the one thing you love most about them? How do you fish them?

[blackcloudbob]

Take a look at the Zee Baas unlike the Stella it is fully waterproof. I have had mine for about a year now and I love it. It's very well built and the drag is like butter. It can take the abuse of kayak fishing no problem.

[Angler Paul]

If you are going to go with just one reel, I would go with a VanStaal 250. It has a large spool which allows you to distance cast from the surf and also the line capacity and integrity to tangle with tuna to over 200 lbs. I have one 275 but two spools for it, one with 30 lb braid for the surf and one loaded with heavier braid for the pelagics.

[Captain Ahab]

Daiwa Saltiga SA-Z6500HDF Dog Fight

Casts like a dream - waterproof and 66lbs of drag


nuf said!

[Steve-O]

I actually have all 3 reels you mentioned. there are the pro and cons or each. you can decide which one is better.

p.s. there is no such thing as a do all spinning reel.

stella 18000 or 20000 the only difference between them is line per crank. you want power or speed. if its power, go 20000, speed 18000. line capacity of off on both of them. they miss there mark by about 40 yards. and trust me i pack it on tight. but drag is dead on. maybe even more. depending if your half spool or full spool. drag is also very smooth. and it cast like a dream when you have a rod that has big guides on it tip top that are size 10 or up are better suited for this reel. but great boat reels for tuna and sails. up to 287lb
thats the biggest i caught with it. this reel is designed for more fast swimming drag pulling fish. Not the buckle down and crank type.
Cons: casting with a surf rod is possible, but you don't want to do it all day.these reels are like 30 oz. that almost 2 lbs. add on a rod, that a lot of weight to be hauling down the beach. it not really water proof. its water resistant. sand is a major problem for this reel. you drop it once in the sand you'll know. the only thing that is protected is the drag. they got gaskets on both sides to water out. ( not sand) it also a drain hole on the body. behind one of the plastic covers. definatly not waterproof.

saltiga 7000 dog fight. almost the same thing as the shimano they now use a magnetic oil to seal certain parts of the real. mainly the rotor to the body. it a little lighter than the stella and a little more drag. it can hold a little more line than what it printed which is good, since you want that topshot. it can handle cow tuna in the pacific as long as work the fish softly. main gear is a little bigger than the shimano so it gives it more crank power and speed.
Cons: the weak link on this reel is the bail. be careful of the bail i have broken it not once but twice. daiwa did warranty it but sending it out and waiting is always a problem. Also cleaning it is a pain. you cant hose it down because you will lose that magnetic oil coating. even though they say it prevents water and grit from entering, it still does.

Van staal vs and vsb 300 one had a bail the other dosent. only waterproof reel out of the three. it is a great reel that does the job. it build for the harshest environments of the northeast. it can handle the the tunas and sails of the east coast as well as roosters south of the boarder. very low maintance. it also has the pulling power of a freight train.the reel has only a small parts list and it has the biggest main gear of the 3. in fact it may have the biggest in the industry. cleaning is a snap. put the reel in your dish washer and set it to rinse. ( my dish washer does not use hot water in rinse mode)15 minutes and it come out like new.
Cons: you cant switch between right hand or left hand. it hold less line the japanese brands. the bail-less model is a little hard to get used to. espically when your jigging. drag washers work great until it wears out. you cant tell when it about to go. it just goes. the only thing that need oil is there the handle connects to the arm. oh the handle is hard to grip when wet.

well good luck. if it was my decision, dogfight.